A popular chocolatier published a breakdown of his takings in the shop window to explain to customers why he was forced to shut his Wilmslow business.

Simon Dunn said on good weeks he was making just £100 a week after paying for rent, business rates, rent, wages and other costs.

The 52-year-old shut his Alderley Road shop on Saturday after six years at the site.

In an emotional message to customers, he provided a full break down of running costs, blaming the £52,000 annual rent and rates, £41,600 yearly tax bill and annual wages for the closure.

He said that despite taking £4,000 on a good week, after bills he was left with just £100 in profit.

Mr Dunn, who employs two full-time, one part-time and six Saturday staff, said: “I didn’t want to close.

“I’m very sad to go, I’m not very comfortable with it at all.

“We’ve had a great response from the public, they have all been commenting on the Facebook page and saying they will miss us.

“I felt like I was letting a lot of very loyal customers down so I wanted to explain exactly what the situation was.”

Mr Dunn, whose business is now a successful franchise, with shops in Macclesfield, Stockport, Hazel Grove, Glossop, Preston and Manchester, said: “I have been a victim of my own success.

“If we had a smaller rent then we would probably make a decent profit, but we’ve just pipped over that threshold.

“On a good week I’m left with £100 a week. It’s not worth it – that doesn’t include my wages.”

Mr Dunn, who lives in Disley with his wife Anne and is grandad of three-year-old Lyla, added: “It’s the big chains we struggle to complete with.

“We are always pushing to make the business do better. If the council did more to support independent shops it would have helped.”

Mr Dunn, who opened his first shop in 1984 will continue to create chocolates from his daughter Camilla’s recently opened shop in Macclesfield.

He said: “I’m better off already, now the overheads have gone it’s taken a lot of the stress away.

“I’m still involved in the shop and the franchises, we’ve had interest from people in Dubai so it’s definitely not the end of the business. My job now will be looking at other areas to develop.” He added: “We are still going to be a big part of the Wilmslow community.”

Simon Carr, vice chairman of Wilmslow Business Group, said: “It’s a huge loss to see an independent retailer struggling in this way and that they have to make the decision to pull out of the town. Not only is it another unit that needs to be filled but it’s a huge loss because of the way Simon conducted his business.

“He was a great businessman who provided something different to the rest of the high street. It would be lovely for the council to reduce rates but I don’t really think they can, but I do think they can do more to increase footfall into the town.

“At Wilmslow Business Group, we are trying lots of different things to encourage this like the Artisan Market and the motor show, and there are lots more things on the horizon.”

Mr Carr, who is store manager at Hoopers, said: “We at Hoopers wish Simon and his family all the very best in their ongoing business ventures.

“We will definitely still be working with Simon at Hoopers in the future.”